Premises and Building
The site of the International House of Japan formerly held a mansion belonging to the Kyōgoku clan, feudal lords of the Tadotsu domain (currently Kagawa Prefecture) during the Edo period up to the very last days of the Tokugawa Shogunate in the late 19th century.
Early in the Meiji period, ownership shifted to Inoue Kaoru (Minister of Foreign Affairs), after which it was possessed by Prince Kuninomiya, followed by the Akaboshi and Iwasaki families. Finally, it was passed on to government ownership after World War II and was transferred to I-House.
History of the Premises and Building
Older maps of the area where I-House stands today (pre-1954)
Maps around the Toriizaka area before the I-House was constructed are shown below.
写真をクリックで拡大写真がみれます。
History of the I-House's founding(1954-55)
Below you can see pictures of ruins of the old Iwasaki estate, the building at the time of the opening (1955), people involved in the construction, and memorable calligraphy.
写真をクリックで拡大写真がみれます。
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